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I accept it is pretty, I know that the children love it and I suspect many people quite like the idea of having a "snow day" but after being house bound since Thursday, I am beginning to get cabin fever. So when is the snow going to stop?

The weather reports say that we aren't going to get much more and its just the freezing temperatures that are keeping it from melting but as I love out of the window, I can see a light flurry of snow falling. I don't deny that it looks beautiful and much more picturesque than bare trees and miserable rain but after a few days of the snow and ice, I have had enough now.

I am not the biggest fan of the school run and was secretly delighted to receive the school closure notice, so there was no alarm and no mad rush in the morning but its still cold! I hate to think what my heating bill is going to be like as the fire has been on constantly and I love being snuggled up with my little family indoors but we all need a bit of fresh air, so we wrapped up yesterday and braved the elements.

Here is the results of our outing ....

 

So the snowman has been built, the obligatory photos taken and the children warned about eating yellow snow (one of my Dad's favourite jokes), so all thats left to ask is; when is the snow going to stop?

Tell me I am not alone here!

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Do you remember a time before the internet? Before we could access emails, apps, our bank acocunt and essentially our lives on our computers, tablets and phones?

The Internet has become an integral part of every day life and as such it can also be a useful tool when it comes to giving a helping hand to busy mums. Parents can keep their children easily entertained by things on the Internet, I challenge you to find any child who is not amused by the Talking Tom Cat app! What’s more as many places offer free Wi-Fi these days you can ensure your kids always have something to keep them occupied when out and about.

For example, you may be going out with your friend for coffee (or tea in my case) and you take your child or children with you. There is no doubt (and anyone with children will verify) that they will undoubtedly get bored by just sitting around in a coffee shop. If you own a tablet or smartphone then this can help to keep them amused or entertain them whilst you enjoy your coffee. You simply need to login to the free Wi-Fi service offered and your child will have access to online games, films, on-demand television and many other things.

For obvious reasons, you should make sure that there are sufficient parental controls on the connection so that your child does not end up accessing unsuitable content on the net though. 

I particularly like the educational apps that look like games to children but are actually engaging their brains and learning as they play.  Free Wifi is great because it can be used as an educational aid to your child. There are many so websites that can help your child with learning or help them to complete difficult homework tasks so not only can you entertain the children with the Internet, you can also boost their academic knowledge and further their education.

I personally prefer to reward my daughters good behavior by providing her with access to suitable online games and other fun content, not necessarily allowing it as an every day priviledge. Many services allow you to impose restrictions on when children can access the internet using their computers or other devices and this means you can control when their able to use the service – enabling you to use the internet as a reward for good behaviour or academic performance, which works for me.

Its amazing how it seems like only a moment in time since I was a child (well maybe a little more than a moment) but watching my children use technology with ease, goes to show how quickly time moves on.

 

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post but as a user of BT Wi-Fi, we would personally recommend it regardless.

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I know that January is a time that alot of parents shudder at the thought of how much has been spent over the Christmas period and decide to tighten their belts on their spending.

I have heard countless times, "when we can afford it" but unless we win the lottery, will we ever be in a position to have everything we want?

So echoing the words of Stacy Risenmay, if you wait until you have enough money to have another baby, to decorate and make your home your own, you never will. If you wait until you have enough money to buy everything new, you are missing the point. It is the old, the new, the hand-made, the hand-me down and the much loved things in your home and your life, that make it unique and your own.

Dont wait, time won't. 

 

We do not sell clothes on the Lilypad but like all mums, when it comes to our children, we love spoiling them. Whether it’s the new “must have” toy that they have been dying to have or a chic outfit that makes them look so adorable. For years now, many mums have been turning to the established brands to outfit their precious kids. However, the trusted brands like Chloe, Burberry and Dior of are seeing more competition as up and coming brands prove they are not only trendy, but a hit with both mums and kids.

Truly Scrumptious 

Model, fashionista and mom, Heidi Klum is devoting her time and fashion expertise to developing a truly trendy and fun line of clothing for children. The line was inspired by her four children.  Klum partnered with Babies “R” Us to bring parents and kids chic and practical clothing.  In addition to clothing for young boys and girls, there is room décor, furniture, bedding and other baby accessories. Items can be purchased at the retail store and there is international shipping for some countries. 

Helen Gordon

Fun and simple, the children’s garments made by Helen Gordon capture the beauty and innocence young kids. With versatile styles and high workmanship, the clothes work well in any season and will stand the test of time. Retro prints and a range of color patterns make the clothes timeless. The brand works with ethical UK Manufacturers to create and has even developed a new line of organic baby tees.

Alpaca Pie 

The west London clothing company was founded by Peruvian born designer Kathleen Holland. She takes advantage of the strong and soft alpaca yarn to bring UK kids super luxurious and warm clothes and accessories. The jumpers, cardigans, dresses, hats, scarves, and toys, crafted by Peruvian alpaca knitters, are all in vibrant colors and quirky patterns that are reminiscent of the textiles found in her native country. Her beautiful clothes aren’t just for those cold winter days. There are several lightweight pieces with embroidered Peruvian designs prefect for summer.

Olive and Olivia

This chic and trendy line is perfect for young fashionistas in the making. The U.S. brand was founded by Alexia Panza who is has built a strong following with her boys clothing line Tom & Drew. The collections, Olivia and Ollie for girls ages 2 to 6 and LIV 7 for girls ages 7 to 14, is not frilly like typical girls wear. Instead, the pieces are sophisticated and classic.

 

Just keep in mind that making your little ones look darling and dapper isn’t the cheapest if you’re buying them the best clothes out there. As they grow up and outgrow their wardrobe, make money for their new clothes by selling the old ones. It may also help to declutter other areas of your house and you can sell DVD's for cash, old computers and televisions, and even furniture for a little extra money. Removing the clutter and improving the children's wardrobes sounds like a perfect solution to me!